Word Origin & History

grope O.E. grapian "to feel about as one blind or in darkness," originally "to feel or handle," related to gripan "grasp at" (see gripe). Fig. sense is from early 14c. Indecent sense (marked as "obsolete" in OED) is from c.1300.

Example Sentences for grope

Strive and grope as he would, the thing had driven him on relentlessly.

We all hope, we all look forward, we all grope for a future which will be better than the present.

It was dark, so that on both occasions we were obliged to grope our way.

The forward ambulance began to grope its way slowly forward.

They had to grope in the corners, and occasionally their hands touched.

From there he was forced to grope his way down the dark hall to the stairs.

She knelt to grope for it, and, having found it, she shut the box.

His soul was too bruised to grope its way about, but instinct told him that bills must be paid.

Often, at night, I would try with one lost hand to grope for the other.

Every time I read great work I see the confirmation of what I grope for.